novelraw Chapter 0133 The Tyrant Becomes Mute
Chapter 0133 The Tyrant Becomes Mute
early morning.
The birdsong outside the window was a bit noisy.
Wen Ning woke up in a panic.
She had a dream in which Jiang Ci discovered her trying to escape and locked her in the basement with the gold chain.
She suddenly opened her eyes, her heart pounding.
My first instinct was to raise my left hand to check if the monitoring watch that represented "safety" was still there.
As long as she has the watch, it means she's obedient and hasn't crossed any lines.
however.
A lightness on my wrist.
Empty.
Only the red marks left by the watch strap still testify to the constraints of yesterday.
The black watch that I couldn't shake off no matter how hard I tried is gone.
Wen Ning's mind went blank.
Gone?
How could it have disappeared?
It was definitely still there before I went to sleep last night!
A huge, overwhelming fear instantly engulfed her.
Jiang Ci once said, "Don't pick them. If you do, lock them back up."
Now that the watch is gone, he'll definitely think she secretly took it off to run away, or that she was deliberately provoking him.
"Where...where..."
Wen Ning jumped off the bed barefoot without even putting on her shoes.
She lay on the carpet, even crawling under the bed to look for it.
No.
There isn't one anywhere.
It’s over.
Wen Ning's face was ashen.
She must find it before Jiang Ci discovers it, or turn herself in and explain.
She stumbled out of the bedroom without even changing out of her pajamas.
……
Downstairs, the restaurant.
The air was filled with a long-lost aroma, full of the scent of cooking.
It's not the kind of cold, impersonal nutritional meal.
Instead, it has a flavor that is a mixture of dried shrimp, seaweed, and sesame oil.
Wen Ning rushed down the stairs.
The footsteps were hurried and disordered.
"Mr. Jiang... Mr. Jiang!"
Before she could even stand up straight, her voice was already trembling with tears.
Jiang Ci, who was setting out chopsticks at the dining table, suddenly froze.
He turned around.
He wasn't wearing a suit, nor that dark shirt that always exuded a sense of oppression.
Instead, she was wearing a light gray cotton loungewear set.
His sleeves were rolled up, revealing some redness and bruising on his forearms (from smashing the wall last night, but he turned to the side and hid it).
His hair was unkempt, hanging limply and obscuring his eyebrows and eyes.
His face was as pale as paper, and the dark circles under his eyes were even more pronounced than yesterday. He exuded an indescribable sense of dejection and... brokenness.
Seeing Wen Ning barefoot and looking terrified.
Jiang Ci felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly.
"Why aren't you wearing shoes?"
His voice was terribly hoarse, as if he had a handful of sand in his mouth.
He instinctively wanted to go over and hug her, but after taking a step, he stopped abruptly.
I dare not touch it.
I feel dirty.
Wen Ning didn't care about her shoes at all.
She stretched out her bare left wrist and held it up in front of him, so anxious that she was incoherent:
"My watch...my watch is gone!"
"I don't know where it went! I didn't pick it! I really didn't pick it!"
"It was gone when I woke up... I didn't intend to run away..."
She became more and more anxious as she spoke, and tears were already welling up in her eyes.
I was afraid that the gold chain would lock up again in the next second.
Jiang Ci looked at the red, swollen mark on her wrist.
Then I looked at her body trembling with fear.
It felt like there was a wad of cotton stuck in my throat, making it painful.
She was genuinely afraid of him.
It's a fear ingrained in my very bones.
Even if one of the instruments of torture that bound her were lost, her first reaction would not be joy, but fear.
"fine."
Jiang Ci lowered his eyes, avoiding her panicked gaze.
This was to mask the bitterness welling up in my eyes.
"I picked them."
He said in a low voice.
Wen Ning was stunned.
"You...picked them?"
"Um."
Jiang Ci turned away, not daring to look at her again.
His fingers gripped the edge of the table tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"That watch... is broken."
He told a bad lie.
"The location tracking is inaccurate, and it keeps making random noises, which is really annoying."
"So I threw it away."
"Throw...throw it away?"
Wen Ning stood there blankly.
The thing he threatened just a few days ago, saying "I'll break your legs if you dare pick it," is just... thrown away like that?
"Let's eat."
Jiang Ci pulled out a chair.
It is not the main position.
Instead, it was the seat next to Wen Ning.
"Breakfast is ready."
"Eat it while it's hot."
Wen Ning looked at the steaming bowl of wontons on the table.
The broth was clear, and it was even sprinkled with a handful of bright green cilantro.
That was her favorite food, but Jiang Ci's least favorite flavor.
She walked over carefully and sat down.
Their movements were hesitant, as if they were walking on thin ice.
"Mr. Jiang... Mr. Jiang."
She picked up the spoon, still feeling uneasy.
"So, do I... need to get a new watch?"
Upon hearing the name "General Jiang".
Jiang Ci's back stiffened instantly.
In the past, he would have enjoyed the title of such a powerful person.
But now, those two words are like a whip, lashing at his heart.
"Don't call me that."
He lowered his head, looking at the empty table in front of him.
The voice was bitter.
"General Manager Jiang is not here."
Wen Ning's hand trembled, and the spoon hit the rim of the bowl.
"So... what's it called?"
Jiang Ci's fingers curled up slightly.
He wanted to say, "Call me Aci."
He wanted to hear her call him Aci softly, just like she did when she was drunk last night.
But he dared not.
He now feels like a sinner, unworthy of that title.
"what ever."
He said in a hoarse voice.
"Any name is fine as long as it's not General Manager Jiang."
Wen Ning was even more frightened.
This is very unusual.
The tyrant who forced her to kneel and handcuffed her yesterday has suddenly become a fairy godmother today?
They don't even dare to speak loudly?
Is this some new punishment? The calm before the storm?
She didn't dare ask any more questions.
He lowered his head and took a sip of soup.
It tastes great, fresh and delicious; it's clear that it was made with care.
"Is it tasty?"
Jiang Ci suddenly asked.
He still didn't dare look at her, his gaze fixed on her hand holding the spoon.
That hand was very thin, and there were faint marks left from previous burns on the back of the hand.
"If it doesn't suit your taste..."
He immediately added, his tone urgent, even with a hint of humble flattery.
"I'll redo it."
"Or would you like something else? I'll go buy it now."
"Need not!"
Wen Ning quickly shook his head.
"It's delicious... really."
She stole a glance at Jiang Ci.
He sat there, head bowed, like a child who had done something wrong and was waiting to be criticized.
That usual arrogance, that ruthless determination to devour her, vanished completely overnight.
All that remained was a hollow shell, as if its soul had been drained, filled with guilt and helplessness.
"Then...then I'll..."
Wen Ning tentatively asked the question that concerned her most.
"Do I still need to go to the company with you?"
If I don't go to the company, will I be stuck at home again?
Should we move them to a different place to lock them up?
Jiang Ci finally raised his head.
But he still didn't look her in the eye.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before quickly shifting to the sunlight streaming through the window.
He fears.
I'm afraid if I watch too much, I won't be able to hold back my tears.
He was afraid that if he saw even the slightest fear in her eyes, he would break down on the spot.
"I'm not going."
He said.
"I'm not going to the office today."
"You don't need to go either."
Wen Ning's heart leaped into her throat: "That is...?"
"You should rest at home."
Jiang Ci stood up.
He walked into the living room and pointed to the easel that had been prepared long ago.
It was piled high with top-quality paints and paper.
You can do whatever you want.
"Drawing, watching movies, or sleeping."
"No one will bother you."
"I don't know either."
After he finished speaking, he didn't even dare to wait for Wen Ning's reaction.
He turned around as if fleeing, and quickly walked into the study.
With a "bang".
The door was closed.
Wen Ning sat at the dining table.
Looking at that bowl of steaming wontons.
He glanced again at the tightly closed study door.
She was completely stunned.
No more surveillance?
No more forcing me?
He didn't even dare to say more than a few words to her.
This madman...
What big move are they planning this time?
In the study.
Jiang Ci leaned against the door.
He slid down slowly and sat on the ground.
He covered his face, his fingers glistening with sweat.
He almost couldn't hold back just now.
I want to kneel before her.
He wanted to hug her legs and beg for forgiveness.
I want to tell her: I know, I know everything.
But he can't.
Before she knew that he already knew the truth.
If he suddenly kneels down and repents, it will only frighten her more and make her think that he has gone mad again.
He could only remain silent.
Put all the regret and love into it.
Little by little, carefully, it was hidden in this bowl of wontons.